PINE BUSH — In yet another example of how concern over the 396-unit town house development in Bloomingburg has spread beyond the eastern Sullivan County village, an Orange County supervisor is calling for the state to conduct a new environmental review of the sewage system that would serve it.

BY STEVE ISRAEL

PINE BUSH — In yet another example of how concern over the 396-unit town house development in Bloomingburg has spread beyond the eastern Sullivan County village, an Orange County supervisor is calling for the state to conduct a new environmental review of the sewage system that would serve it.

Town of Crawford Supervisor Charlie Carnes says that the state-approved system, which is under construction, would discharge treated material into the Shawangunk Kill trout stream that runs into his northern Orange town.

"So there should have been a coordinated review (between Crawford and Bloomingburg,)" says Carnes, who is concerned that if any problem arises, it might be blamed on Crawford's new system, which also discharges into the Shawangunk Kill.

While the Department of Environmental Conservation would not comment, Bloomingburg Planning Board Chairman Russ Wood — also the Bloomingburg sewer plant operator — noted that Bloomingburg's old system also uses the Shawangunk Kill.

Carnes' request comes amid rising regional worry about the apparent Hasidic development, Villages of Chestnut Ridge, and a proposed private girls' school that would be fed by it.

The Pine Bush School District — which draws students from Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties — says that because it will have to provide services for the school, its finances could be stressed, although a study by the developer says otherwise. District residents also fear they would lose control if the development's residents vote as a bloc.

Earlier this month, Orange County Legislator Roseanne Sullivan — also a Pine Bush school board member — called for the state attorney general to investigate the circumstances surrounding the approval of the development. Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, D-Forestburgh, confirmed an investigation was underway.

Because of concern that this sort of concentrated development on 200 acres could spread in this region of old farms and fields that sits in the shadow of the Shanwangunk Ridge, Carnes says Crawford is also tightening its business park and industrial zoning.

"We just want to discourage high density development and encourage business," said Carnes.